Description:
West Hills community college endeavors to provide education and
educational support services to limited English proficient students
by using Hispanic and nontraditional role models who can encourage
students to succeed. Hiring decisions are consciously made to
provide Spanish speaking staff and instructors who can serve as role
models for students. Through contract education projects and grants,
staff who are reflective of the community are hired to work with the
Hispanic student population. For example:

· The Dean of Student Services is a West Hills Community College
alumni and is the oldest of nine children in a single parent farm
working family

· Outreach staff to high schools are often young Hispanics

· Central American Teachers, on scholarship to study American
teaching techniques work with elementary school children

· Tutors hired for After School and elementary tutoring are often
Hispanic graduates from the community's schools.

· Child Development courses are taught in Spanish.

It has been an administrative decision to hire staff reflective of
the community. To do this, the college employs widespread
recruitment efforts to attract qualified Spanish speaking
applicants. They actively use advertising, local connections and
media stories to attract qualified applicants interested in working
for the community college system.

Following this decision, the percentage of Spanish speaking students
has risen steadily over the last five years.

This website and all activities conducted by the Perkins 1B funded Statewide Leadership Collaborative for Special Populations Grant (17-0165) are funded
in part by the Chancellor's Office, California Community Colleges.